BBC Restores Eric Gill Statue Amid Controversy Over Artist's Abuse History

In January 2022, a protester defaced the 1932 statue of Prospero and Ariel by Eric Gill at Broadcasting House in London, highlighting the BBC's child abuse controversies. Following recommendations from Historic England, the BBC plans to restore the statue using insurance funds and will include a QR code detailing Gill's offenses. Gill, who passed away in 1940, was exposed for sexually abusing his daughters and engaging in incestuous relationships, as outlined in Fiona MacCarthy's biography from 1989. The statue has attracted attention from both child abuse victim organizations and right-wing activists, with charities advocating for its removal. In 2022, the Ditchling Museum of Art + Craft altered its 2017 exhibition to address Gill's abuse, removing his works for ten months. Critics have defended the statue's artistic merit, while the BBC continues to face criticism over its historical handling of child sexual abuse.